Cat restrainer

ABSTRACT

A combination of a harness and frame assembly (23) to provide a cat bathing, treating, breeding, transporting, and surgical restraint; wherein the harness apparatus (21) comprises supporting base member (10) having a restraining upper body (15) and lower body (17) harness member having a plurality of adjustment elements (7) and (19) and leg openings (14) connected to supporting base member (10); and, wherein the frame assembly comprises longitudinal side bar members (22) supported by leg members (6) attached to transverse bar members (24) by attachment elements (8); and wherein the harness and frame assembly (23) becomes a surgical device (20) comprised of a second set of leg members (9) that are adapted to be connected above the first set of leg members (6); a detachable center panel member (11) on its base member (16); a sheet of material (18) generally dimensioned to support the supine body of a cat or small animal attached to sides of longitudinal bar members (22) for securing over the back of the animal before inverting unit depending on whether a dorsoventral or ventrodorsal attitude is desired.

This application is a continuation-in-part of Ser. No. 07/238,493 filed8/31/88 now abandoned.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This invention relates generally to restraining apparatus and hasparticular reference to harnesses, slings, and frames to facilitatebathing, treating, breeding, transporting and surgical procedures onsmall four legged animals such as cats.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

As can be seen by reference to the following U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,796,565;2,438,979; 3,215,834; 4,184,451; 163,378; and 152,276, the prior art isfilled with myriad and diverse restraining harness apparatus for holdingor immobilizing animals and children, and so forth.

While the aforementioned prior art construction are more than adequatefor handling, holding and transporting the objects or items for whichthey were specifically developed, none of these devices are designed orintended to serve as a multipurpose restrainer, holder, carrier, breederand surgical device for cats.

Despite the fact that at least one of the acknowledged prior art deviceswas developed to bathe dogs, or animals by means of a frame that must beadjusted and secured in a bath tub, and is harnessed in a plurality ofstraps, this type of harness would never hold a cat, given the supplenature of a cat's body and the ease with which they can escape fromstraps.

In another prior art device a holder for supporting cast animals isformed by a sling having aperture for the animals legs and udder. Thisdevice does not have a secure fitting combination sling and harnessneeded for fastening a cat, therefore not satisfactory.

In addition, none of the prior art constructions envisions the use of asuspended elevated base in combination with restraining means, whereinthe restraining means provides a harness arrangement for cats which willserve the multiple function of holding the cat for the purpose ofbathing, breeding, treating, transporting, and surgical procedures.

A problem which veterinarians have in performing surgical procedures oncats and small animals is the proper positioning of the animal after ithas been anesthetized. It is most desirable that the animal be supportedwith the abdominal area in an upward position with the legs extendedsince most surgical procedures are performed best in this position.However, the structure of the body of a cat or dog is exactly contraryto this position, and there is no natural tendency for anesthetizedanimals to rest in a convenient surgical position, making it necessaryfor veterinary surgeons to require the aid of one or more assistants inmaintaining the animal in the preferred position for surgery.

One of the acknowledged prior art devices provides an elongated, rigidbase with opposed parallel ridges. It is suggested the base be made ofplastic. This device could not be comfortable even for an anesthetizedanimal, therefore not satisfactory. It is therefore an object of thepresent invention to provide an improved structure for suppporting catsand other small anesthetized animals securely and comfortably forsurgical procedures.

In an alternative embodiment the harness arrangement may be used torestrain and support a cat in either ventrodorsal or dorsoventralattitude within the confines of the apparatus.

More particularly, an object of this invention is to provide acomfortable, secure means of restraint by means of sling base onelevated frame to which harnesses are attached, including the provisionof adjustable straps, all of heavy, washable fabric to receive andsupport the supine body of a cat or small animal in the most convenientposition for the specific surgery being performed. A second fabric panelattaches to sides of frame and wraps around the back of the animal foradded support.

Obviously there has existed a long felt need in this area of technologyfor an improved multipurpose cat harness apparatus that would addressthe aforementioned prior art shortcomings, and, the apparatus that formsthe basis of the present invention was developed specifically to providea solution to inherent deficiencies found in the prior artconstructions.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises in general a multipurpose restrainerharness apparatus which though designed primarily to function as a catbather can also be used as a carrier and breeder device. In additionthis restraining bather unit secures pet firmly for surgical proceduresat veterinarian's office or for medical treatment and grooming at home.

Briefly stated the improved harness and frame apparatus unit compriseselongated rectangular frame assembly supported by leg members and havinga base member, wherein the base member is provided with four legopenings onto which an upper and lower body harness member is attached.Furthermore in an alternate embodiment the base member can be providedwith reinforced drain holes to allow bath water to drain. Each harnesshas a plurality of adjustable straps provided with buckles and atextured material providing a multiplicity of loops, this type ofmaterial commonly referred to by the trademark "Velcro" at the tip ofeach strap. The harnesses are designed with a fixedly secured fabricsupport member supported at the base of and between the interconnectingstrap elements whereby the legs of the animal are secured to said basemember firmly and is the distinct feature which provides absoluterestraint of escape to cats and restricts their body movement renderingthem powerless to injure their attending handler.

It should be noted that in a preferred mode of operation the harnessapparatus of this invention may be deployed within its frame to bothrestrain and support a cat in a partially suspended relationshiprelative to the ground. This partial suspension is particularly usefulwhen a breeder female cat has difficulty in standing to be bred, acommon problem to catteries.

It should further be noted that in another mode of operation thisharness apparatus is adapted to function as a unique carrier fortransporting a cat from one location to another while cat is strapped ina partially suspended relationship relative to the ground.

In still another embodiment the straps of the harness are unfastened andlaid flat on the bather unit to provide a hammock.

In another prefered mode of operation the unit can be converted into anabdominal surgical device by the use of a second set of legs attachedabove first set of legs whereby the unit may be inverted onto the upperset of legs after pet has been firmly secured within the upper and lowerbody harness. A center panel within the base panel member, which is thesuspension of the pet when in upright position, can be opened or closedby means of a textured material called "Velcro" after unit is inverteddepending on the surgical procedure being performed. A rectangularfabric panel is attached to the elongated side bars of the frame andover the back of the anesthetized animal by means of the texturedmaterial called "Velcro". This fabric panel is dimensioned andpositioned for extra support to the supine body of a cat or smallanimal.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other objects, advantages, and novel features of the inventionwill become apparent from the detailed description of the best mode forcarrying out the preferred embodiment of this invention which follows;particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the cat bather/breeder restraint unit ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of upper and lower body harness of the unit;

FIG. 3 is perspective view of the surgical harness and frame unit; ofthis invention;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of base and harness assembly of the surgicalunit of this invention;

FIG. 5 is top plan view of back wrap panel of the surgical unit.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

As can be seen by reference to the drawings and in particular FIG. 1,the harness and frame assembly unit that comprises the first majorcomponent of the present invention is designated generally by thereference numeral (23). The harness and frame unit (23) comprises ingeneral: longitudinal bar members (22) transverse bar members (24) aplurality of elongated support members (6) a base member (10) with legopenings (12) and harness members (15) (17). The harness members (15)(17) are provided with a plurality of interconnecting strap elements(19) cooperating securing means (30) and leg openings (14) for holding,supporting and immobilizing in upright position a cat or small domesticanimal. As can be seen by reference to FIG. 2, the harness member (28)comprises a generally rectangular body encircling element (29) which isdimensioned to support and at least partially encircle the underside ofa cat's torso. The plurality of interconnecting strap elements (19)comprise at least two horizontally oriented and generally parallel strapmembers on each harness member (15) (17) as viewed in FIG. 2.

The cooperating securing means (30) comprise a well-recognized beltbuckle arrangement wherein one end of the strap elements (19) isprovided with a buckle member (7) and the other end of the strap element(19) is provided with a plurality of spaced holes (26).

It can be seen by reference to FIG. 1 that the body harness members (15)(17) and the base panel member (10) are secured to each other at the legopenings (14) and (12). The harness apparatus (28) in its operativedisposition completely surrounds the cat's torso, wherein the bodyencircling element (29) is disposed beneath the pet and the horizontalstrap members (19) complete the encirclement of the animal's torso.

The frame assembly of unit (23) and unit (20) is of a rectangular shapeand is comprised of longitudinal bar members (22), transverse barmembers (24) and a plurality of support members (6) of equal length. Theends of the plurality of support members (6) are detachably connected tothe ends of the longitudinal bar members (22) and to the ends of thetransverse bar members (24) at right angles.

It should be appreciated at this juncture that the frame assembly ofunit (23) is provided with connecting means (8) whereby the unit may beeasily disassembled for the removal and cleaning of the base member (10)if it becomes soiled.

In a preferred mode of operation the harness and frame unit is employedas a cat bather apparatus, wherein the base member can be provided withreinforced drain holes (3) for bath water to drain.

It should also be appreciated that in the aforementioned embodiment theharness and the frame assembly (23) can function as a carrier.

In a preferred embodiment of the invention depicted in FIG. 1, a femalecat (25) is confined within the harness apparatus (21) and placed on afloor, or any flat level base such as a floor, to allow the male cateasy access to the female for breeding purposes. In this embodiment theharness and frame assembly unit (23) captively retains the cat (25) withher feet raised off the ground so that the unit (23) will not undulymove should the cat attempt to move.

As can best be seen by reference to FIG. 3, the surgical unit thatcomprises the second major component of this invention is designatedgenerally by the reference numeral (20). The surgical unit (20)comprises in general a base member (16) a detachable center panel member(11) including a harness apparatus (28) comprised of: an upper (15) andlower (17) body harness member; a plurality of strap elements (19)provided with cooperating securing means (30) for holding, supportingand immobilizing in upright position a cat, which is indicated byphantom lines (25).

The embodiment of FIG. 3 is essentially the same as that illustrated anddescribed with reference to FIG. 1 except that it includes an integralextension of leg members generally indicated by the numeral (9). Theextension of leg members is contiguous with the elongated supportmembers (6) of the basic unit (23) and are interconnected by joiningmeans (13) to detachably secure these upper elongated support members(9) to opposing pairs of elongated support members (6).

It should be appreciated at this juncture that the second set of supportmembers (9) are provided to hold the surgical harness and frame unit(20) in a suspended relation relative to the ground when unit isinverted to facilitate the performance of abdominal surgical procedures.

It can be seen that with the animal as positioned, surgery or X-rays maybe completed by the veterinary surgeon without the help of an assistant.It can also be seen that the invention may be very effectively utilizedto restrain a cat or other small domestic animal in both dorsoventraland ventrodorsal postural attitudes. The forms described herein areparticularly useful for feline castration, urethrostomy, onychectomy,ovarianhysterectomy, ceasarian sect and so forth.

Both structures, the cat bather restraint (23) and the surgical unit(20), permit assistant free restraint for radiography and surgicalprocedures. In all modes of deployment the harness apparatus (28) willmaintain a basic operative relationship relative to the users'pet (25).

In this invention the base (10) and (16) can be composed of a durableand flexible material such as canvas in sheet form, and as shown in thedrawings of FIG. 1 and 3, the longitudinal edge portions of both bases(10) and (16) are attached to longitudinal bar members (22) by means ofcasings (40) formed along longitudinal edges of the bases (10) and (16)and arranged to accommodate therein the longitudinal bar members (22) ofthe units (20) and (23).

As can be seen by reference to FIG. 4, the restraining member thatcomprises a major component of the surgical unit (20) is designated bythe reference numeral (21). The restraining member (21) comprises ingeneral the second base member (16) provided with leg openings (27)detachable center base panel member (11) and body harness member (28), aplurality of interconnecting strap elements (19) provided withcooperating securing means (30).

The body harness member (28) comprises a generally rectangular bodyencircling element (29) which is dimensioned to support and at leastpartially encircle the underside of a cat's torso. The plurality ofinterconnecting strap elements (19) comprise at least two horizontallyoriented and generally parallel strap members (19) on each harness (15)(17) as viewed in FIG. 2.

The cooperating securing means (30) comprise a well-recognized beltbuckle arrangement wherein one end of the strap elements (19) isprovided with a buckle member (7) and the other end of the strap element(19) is provided with a plurality of spaced holes (26).

The base member (16) is of a generally rectangular shape and is providedwith means to detachably secure the rectangular center base panel member(11) approximately the length of the base (16) and between the legopenings (14) of the upper body (15) and lower body (17) harnesses byuse of a commercially available product sold under the trademark"Velcro", the trademark being owned by Velcro Corp., New York, N.Y.,using a strip placed on each longitudinal under side of center basepanel member (11) and each longitudinal upper side of the base panelmember (16).

Velcro is a material providing both a multiplicity of small loops andresilient hooks. When the loops are pressed against the hooks they arereceived and thereby held in position, and, with enough pressure, theflexible hooks are disengaged from the loops. By the foregoingarrangement the opening of the base center panel member (11) can beadjusted to a desired size depending on the abdominal surgical procedurebeing performed.

The leg openings (27) of the base (16) and the leg openings (14) of theharnesses (15) (17) are designed to completely surround a pet's legseven when the center base panel member (11) is opened and providessupport to the animal's legs in a resting position while pet is heldwith the stomach and chest portions of the body upwardly exposed wheremost surgical operations are performed.

It can be seen by referring to FIG. 4 that the body harness members (15)(17) and the base panel member (16) are secured to each other at the legopenings (14) (27).

In the latter embodiment depicted in FIG. 3 a panel in the form of asheet of material (18) about the size of the base (16) is provided withan adhesive material known as "Velcro" on the longitudinal edge portionsand is placed over the back of a cat or small domestic animal whilestrapped in an upright position in the unit (20) and secured to thelongitudinal sides (22) of the unit (20) for added support before theunit (20) is inverted to facilitate abdominal surgical procedures.

It should be appreciated at this juncture that the frame assembly ofunit (20) is provided with detachable connecting means (13) whereby theunit (20) may be easily disassembled for the removal and washing of thebase (16) and back wrap sheet of material (18) if it becomes soiled withblood as a result of the operating procedures.

It can be seen that the invention may be very effectively utilized torestrain cats or other small domestic animals in both dorsoventral andventrodorsal postural attitudes. These positions are particularly usefulfor feline castration, ovarianhysterectomy, ceasarian sect,urethrostomy, onychectomy and so forth. Both structures, the bather andthe surgical apparatus, permit assistant free restraint for radiographyand surgical procedures.

My harness on its base and frame conveniently and securely holds a catfor bathing, treating, grooming, breeding, and carrying purposes withoutcausing any undesirable inconvenience to the animal or injuries to itshandler, and also prevents the cat from shaking itself until it isthoroughly towelled dry after the bath.

While the invention has been described with a certain degree ofparticularity, it is manifest that many changes may be made in thedetails of constuction of the invention without departing from thespirit and scope hereof. It is understood that the invention is notlimited to the embodiments set forth herein for purposes ofexemplification, but is to be limited only by the scope of the attachedclaim or claims, including the full range of equivalency to which eachelement thereof is entitled.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patentis:
 1. A cat restraining apparatus comprising the combination of aharness apparatus and frame assembly for securing and supporting catsand other small domestic four legged pets for bathing, treating,breeding, transporting and surgical procedures, wherein the combinationcomprises:a harness apparatus unit including a base member having fourleg openings and supported horizontally on the frame assembly and,wherein the base member is composed of a durable, and flexible sheet ofmaterial with its longitudinal edge portions attached to longitudinalmembers of the frame assembly; the harness apparatus wherein said basemember is generally rectangular and of sufficient size to accommodatefour leg openings for a cat or other small animal; the harness apparatuswherein an upper and lower body harness member is fixedly secured tosaid base member and further includes a pair of openings that receivethe legs of an animal; the harness apparatus wherein said upper andlower body harness member has a lower body encircling element and has afixedly secured fabric support panel member provided at the base of andbetween a plurality of interconnecting strap elements; said upper andlower body harness member wherein said plurality of interconnectingstrap elements are provided with cooperating securing means adapted tocaptively surround the torso of a cat; a frame assembly associated withsaid harness apparatus including upper longitudinal side membersapproximately the length of said base member, lower transverse membersapproximately the width of said base member, and a plurality ofelongated support members: of equal length; the plurality of elongatedsupport members of equal length and means to detachably connect saidelongated support members to said longitudinal side members and to saidtransverse members normally, or at right angles.
 2. A cat restrainingapparatus comprising the combination of a harness apparatus and frameassembly for securing and supporting cats and other small domestic fourlegged animals for bathing, treating, breeding, transporting, andsurgical procedures, wherein the combination comprises:a harnessapparatus unit including a base member and a harness member; the harnessapparatus wherein the base member is a generally rectangular sheet ofmaterial of sufficient size to accommodate four leg openings for a cator other small animal and supported horizontally on the frame assembly;the harness apparatus wherein the longitudinal edge portions of saidbase member are attached to said longitudinal members of said frameassembly by means of casings formed along longitudinal edge portions ofsaid base member and arranged to accommodate therein said longitudinalmembers of said frame assembly; the harness apparatus associated withsaid base member wherein said harness apparatus includes an upper andlower body harness member and each harness member having a plurality ofinterconnecting strap elements provided with cooperating securing meanswherein said upper and lower harness captively surrounds the torso of acat; and, the improvement wherein said upper and lower body harnessmember is fixedly secured to said base member; the harness apparatusunit including an optional alternate base member provided withreinforced drain holes to allow bath water to drain; a frame assemblyincluding elevated longitudinal said members of equal length, transversemembers of equal width and a plurality of elongated support members ofequal length; means for joining the elongated support members to eachend of said longitudinal side members and each end of said transversemembers normally, or at right angles.
 3. A cat restraining apparatus asin claim 2 wherein said plurality of elongated support members of equallength are joined to opposed pairs of elongated support members byattachment elements forming an integral extension of and contiguous withthe elongated support members, whereby the harness apparatus and frameassembly unit may be supported by the opposed pairs of elongated supportmembers when inverted for abdominal operations.
 4. A cat restrainingapparatus as in claim 3 wherein said harness apparatus is furtherprovided with a back supporting panel composed of a durable and flexiblematerial in sheet form generally dimensioned to support the back of thesupine body of a cat or small animal, with its longitudinal edgeportions provided with a strip of fabric providing a plurality of loopsof filaments and wherein the supporting panel is removably secured tolongitudinal side members of said frame assembly by means of a strip ofmaterial having an upper surface formed of upstanding filaments eachconfigured as a hook at the upper end.
 5. A cat restraining apparatus asin claim 2 and 3 wherein said base member is provided with a detachablelongitudinally dimensioned center panel member between the leg openingsof said base member and, wherein an underside surface of both of saidlongitudinal edge portions of said center panel member are provided witha strip of fabric providing a plurality of loops of filaments, andwherein the surface of both upper longitudinal sides of said base memberare provided with a strip of material having an upper surface formed ofupstanding filaments each configured as a hook at an upper end wherebysaid center panel member is removably secured to said base member, and,whereby the size of an opening on the said base member can be adjustedto expose the abdomen of a pet.